Issue - meetings

To consider a recommendation from the Cabinet meeting held on 25 June 2019.

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder, Cllr P Warf presented the report and recommendation.  The proposal was seconded by Cllr R Knox.

Decision

That Council agree, effective from 1 April 2019, that 100% of all income from War Disablement or War Widows Pension be disregarded when calculating entitlement to Housing Benefit in line with the resolution as set out at Appendix A of the report.

To consider a report by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial and Assets.

Recommended

1. That Council agree, effective from 1 April 2019, that 100% of all

income from War Disablement or War Widows Pension be disregarded when

calculating entitlement to Housing Benefit in line with the resolution at Appendix A of the report. 

Decisions

2. That the Council Tax Discretionary Discount Policy set out at Appendix B of the report be adopted.

3. That the Business Rates Revaluation Support Scheme set out at Appendix C of the report be adopted.

4. That any underspend in the government grant allocation of £243,000 be used to

provide additional support for struggling businesses and that approval of such

cases be delegated to the Executive Director - Corporate Development (S151) after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial and Assets.

5. That the Hardship Relief Policy set out at Appendix D of the report be adopted.

6. That the Discretionary Housing Payments Policy set out at Appendix E of the report be adopted.

Reason for Decisions

To ensure that a consistent approach was taken in relation to the award of discretionary awards, discounts, payments and reliefs.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial and Assets proposing the adoption of the following discretionary policies and schemes to ensure that a consistent approach was applied to decision-making by the Revenues and Benefits Service across the Council’s area.  These were:

a. Housing Benefit awarded in respect of those receiving a War Disablement or War Widows Pension

b. Council Tax discount

c. Business Rates Revaluation Relief

d. Hardship Relief

e. Discretionary Housing Payments.

Members were informed that the predecessor district/borough councils each had their own set of policies and schemes and this would enable a single set to be used consistently across the Council’s area.  The general approach had been to level these up and, in some cases, the proposals exceeded statutory requirements.

In response to a question, the Executive Director - Corporate Development (S151) explained that State Aid thresholds were set by the EU Commission in Euros and the information in paragraph 4.5 of the report was therefore correct.

Recommended

1. That Council agree, effective from 1 April 2019, that 100% of all

income from War Disablement or War Widows Pension be disregarded when

calculating entitlement to Housing Benefit in line with the resolution at Appendix A of the report. 

Decisions

2. That the Council Tax Discretionary Discount Policy set out at Appendix B of the report be adopted.

3. That the Business Rates Revaluation Support Scheme set out at Appendix C of the report be adopted.

4. That any underspend in the government grant allocation of £243,000 be used to

provide additional support for struggling businesses and that approval of such

cases be delegated to the Executive Director - Corporate Development (S151) after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial and Assets.

5. That the Hardship Relief Policy set out at Appendix D of the report be adopted.

6. That the Discretionary Housing Payments Policy set out at Appendix E of the report be adopted.

Reason for Decisions

To ensure that a consistent approach was taken in relation to the award of discretionary awards, discounts, payments and reliefs.